Fans welcome Russia's Olympic silver medalist Nikita Filippov

Fans welcomed neutral athlete Nikita Filippov upon his return to Moscow after winning silver in the men’s sprint ski mountaineering event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Filippov secured second place on Thursday, earning the first medal for competitors listed as Individual Neutral Athletes at the Games. Speaking on arrival, Filippov said he had “inscribed my name in history forever,” describing his achievement in Olympic ski mountaineering as unique and expressing hope to further develop the sport in Russia.